Businesswomen organizing "Freedom from Filner" march

DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO  Momentum is building toward the recall of beleaguered Mayor Bob Filner with four local businesswomen organizing an anti-Filner march around City Hall on Sunday to coincide with the first day that signatures can be collected to oust him from office.

Meanwhile recall proponents say they’ve raised more than $100,000 for the petition drive and created a new website — recallbobfilner.com — for donations and volunteers. They are also planning to kick off their signature-gathering efforts in multiple locations Sunday with details coming soon.

Rachel Laing, spokeswoman for the recall campaign, said Sunday’s events will provide a good barometer for how difficult or easy the signature-gathering effort will be.

Yes
93% (3850)

No
7% (269)

4119 total votes.

“We’re going to see if our anecdotal impressions are correct that there’s tremendous enthusiasm and that this is going to be one of the more successful grass roots efforts that has ever occurred in San Diego,” she said.

Filner has been under fire for more than a month amid allegations he sexually harassed numerous women. More than a dozen women have come forward accusing him of inappropriate sexual behavior and unwanted sexual advances, including kisses, groping and derogatory comments.

Four businesswomen — two Democrats and two Republicans — are organizing a “Freedom from Filner March” at 2 p.m. Sunday outside City Hall. They’re trying to get hundreds of men and women who want Filner to resign to march around the block to show their disgust for the mayor’s disrespectful treatment of women.

“We’re going to take back our city and it’s time that we have leadership that has honor, integrity and respect for all people,” said Kathryn Vaughn, a Republican attorney who is one of the organizers. “Bob Filner has no respect for women. He doesn’t have respect for the City Council. He doesn’t have respect for our city attorney. He doesn’t respect anyone and the man has no boundaries.”

Democrat Karen Cebreros, founder of Earth’s Choice, an organic coffee company, said it’s getting to the point where every conservation immediately turns to what seems to be a never-ending scandal with Filner so they wanted to do something about it.

“Everybody’s got to stop talking and take action,” Cebreros said. “Who’s accountable if something isn’t changing? So we said ‘All right, let’s march. Let’s have a call to action and see if people respond.’”

The other organizers are Lynn Congemi, vice president of Workshops for Warriors, and Elizabeth Dreicer, co-founder of Kuity Corp., an advanced analytics firm.

Official recall petitions will be there for participants to sign and famed attorney Gloria Allred is scheduled to attend the rally. Allred represents Irene McCormack Jackson, the former Filner aide who has sued the mayor and the city for sexual harassment.

The recall effort officially starts Sunday when proponents can begin collecting the 101,597 signatures from registered city voters needed to trigger a recall election. The signatures must be gathered within 39 days under the city’s recall law although a 30-day extension is allowed if they fall short.

The day will be marked by several signature-gathering events. Volunteers will be circulating the petition at the America’s Finest City Half-Marathon, which will draw thousands of spectators.

Laing, the recall spokeswoman, said details will be provided soon as to when and where people can go to sign the petition. The website will eventually include a searchable map that allows users to type in their address to find the nearest location to sign the petition.

The recall movement is also starting to see money flow in. Laing said the fundraising total has topped six figures for an effort many expect will cost between $500,000 and $1 million. She said other donors are lining up to contribute in large part because of the mayor’s recent actions.

“It helps that there is zero indication from the office of the mayor that he has any intention of resigning,” Laing said. “We’re going to have to pull him out of there with the cane. We’re going to have to drag him kicking and screaming apparently. He doesn’t seem to have any intention of resigning and, because of that, it’s getting more people willing to step forward.”

Filner has steadfastly refused to resign despite the legal and political maelstrom surrounding him. He’s been out of the public spotlight since July 26 and his prepared statements since have focused on his policy initiatives and ignored the controversy.

The recall campaign also made some changes Wednesday as one of its three co-chairs, housewife Elisa Brent, stepped down from her leadership post. She plans to continue helping the recall effort by coordinating volunteers but had “interpersonal tension” with co-chairman Michael Pallamary, Laing said.